Himpunan Hijau won’t march to gold mine site

Organisers of the event have agreed to stage the protest at a sports complex where they will hand over a memorandum to a representative of RAGM.

PETALING JAYA: Himpunan Hijau will stage its protest march against a gold mine in Raub, Pahang, at Padang Kompleks Sukan Jalan Bukit Koman Raub, near Taman Tasik Raub, on at 2pm on Sept 2.

The organising committee said in a statement today that they initially planned to march to the plant of the Raub Australian Gold Mining Bhd (RAGM) to express their objection to the RAGM’s operation.

But after a meeting with the police, we have decided to hold the gathering at an alternative venue, Himpunan Hijau said in a statement today.

Wong Kin Hoong, the chairman of Himpunan Hijau Raub 902, said that since the RAGM started its operation in February 2009, the villagers had been experiencing various health problems such as skin itch, rashes, persistent cough, dizziness, and headache.

“For more than three years the residents have been complaining to the authorities but to no avail. Instead, the authorities have blamed the residents for over-reacting, accusing them of using wrong soaps, eating wrong food, mood swings and so on.

“We are not against profit-making corporations. But we insist that the gold-mining industry must operate with public accountability and social responsibility, without polluting the environment and putting the lives of the residents at great risk,” he said.

Meanwhile, Raub district police chief Wan Mohd Samsudin said that RAGM has agreed to send a representative to the sports complex to accept the memorandum.

Samsudin also said that the police will ensure that the event is carried out smoothly.

“We will set up mobile operation rooms, with 40 traffic policemen to direct the traffic.”

However, Wong said the participants will march to the gold mine site if the RAGM representative did not show up.

He added: “Let’s all work together to ban cyanide in gold mining, and a green environment for future generation.”

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